Hello guys! Sorry for slower updates these past few weeks. My modules are making me dig my own grave so I hope you understand.
Please give feedbacks about this story. And if you don't have anything to read or anything to do, please feel free to check my other stories if you want.
Keep shining and fighting loves<3333
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"Sana pala sinabi ko ng mas maaga na aalis ako, edi sana mas maaga mo'kong hinalikan."
I don't know why, but my heart ached because of Caleb's remark. Ilang beses akong natulala sa kanya bago tumalikod at lumabas ng sasakyan. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko at nag-iinit ang pisngi sa sobra'ng kahihiyan.
I heard Caleb's approaching footsteps towards me kaya mas binilisan ko ang lakad. De-deretcho na sana ako papasok ng makarinig ng ingay mula sa loob. I made my way towards the house balcony and saw Danae and Nhor, together with Wade and two other girls.
My eyes widened in surprise. Why are they here?
May... nakita ba sila?!
"Surprise!" Magkapanabay na sigaw nina Nhor at Danae.
"W-what are you doing here?" Nagtataka kong tanong.
Nhor and Danae ran towards me and hugged me. Bago sila lumayo sa akin, magkapanabay pa sila'ng bumulong sa tenga ko.
"We saw that."
Napapikit ako dahil doon. The house balcony was facing the parking lot. Hindi din tinted ang sasakyang ginamit namin kaya naman makikita talaga nila.
Lumayo sila sa akin atsaka naman lumapit sa akin si Wade na kaagad akong hinalikan sa pisngi at lumapit din para bumulong sa tenga ko. Kita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang pagsimangot ng kakarating lang na si Caleb.
"You didn't tell me about this, little rascal."
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero ngumisi lang siya. The two other girls were Althea and Mary, we weren't really close but they both smiled and waved their hands at me.
"Next week pa kayo dapat dadating diba?"
"Well, it's Caleb's idea," Wade smirked at his cousin and they both made a fist-bump before Caleb smiled at me.
"I wanted to surprise you," he scratched the back of his head shyly. Napatanga nalang ako.
"Gala tayo!" Pag-aaya ni Danae. She was fast to understand the awkward air between Caleb and me.
There was chaos here and there and we just found ourselves inside the pick-up again, heading towards a small eatery in town. Nasa gitna ako nina Danae at Nhor na busy sa pakikipag-usap sa iba naming kasama.
When we arrived in the eatery place, we went in and bought some food. Mandaya cuisine was first on the list, of course. We found a table and settled down to eat. I pulled Danae and Nhor on both my sides. I didn't want to be any closer beside Caleb.
Nagsimula kaming kumain at magkwentuhan. Mostly ay si Caleb ang nagsasalita. Pansin ko ang pagsulyap-sulyap niya sa direksyon ko pero umaarte akong parang walang nangyari.
Why did I even do that?
To be honest, I don't know. I just don't know.
Naunang lumabas sina Caleb at ang iba pa bukod sa akin dahil pumunta ako sa restroom. I heaved a sigh before going out. Naabutan ko si Wade na may hinahanap sa upuan niya kanina. His face lit up when he saw what he was looking for, which was his phone.
Napabaling ang tingin niya sa akin atsaka ako nginitian. Lumapit siya sa akin at magkasabay naming tinungo ang daan palabas. When I saw Caleb waiting outside the car, probably waiting for us, tinapik ko ang balikat ni Wade. Napalingon siya sa akin.
"Yes, milady?"
I cleared my throat before saying, "Pwede bang ikaw ang umupo sa harapan? Tapos umarte kang parang 'yun ang plano mo."
He looked confused for a while before running towards the open car door.
"I won, Aria! Ang bagal mo talaga!" Umupo siya sa front seat atsaka tinapik ang bubong ng sasakyan. "Larga!"
I smiled at that. You gotta love Wade, too.
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It was another sleepless night for me. My friends were already asleep but I am still wide awake. Nag-isip ako sandali bago napag-desisyonang bumaba. I quietly made my way towards the kitchen.
I looked around for something to eat. Hindi ako magaling magluto kaya naman naghanap ako ng pagkaing ready-to-eat. My eyes lit up when I saw loaves of bread and some sandwich spread.
Masyado akong tutok sa paglalagay ng palaman sa tinapay kaya hindi ko napansin ang pagpasok ng kung sino sa kusina.
"Can you make me some?"
Napa-igtad ako sa gulat at muntik pang mahulog ang hawak kong tinapay.
"You surprised me, Tito!"
"Pasensya ka na," natatawa'ng saad ni Tito Charles.
He took a seat on one of the kitchen chairs and settled himself there comfortably. Ginawan ko siya ng sandwich bago ako gumawa ng akin. He started eating his food while I was preparing mine.
"This is good," tatango-tango niya pang sabi. Napatawa naman ako.
"Sandwich lang naman po yan. Atsaka, hindi po ako magaling sa kusina."
"Oh, so hindi ka interesado sa pagluluto."
I shook my head before saying, "Hindi po eh."
"Then what do you wanna do after you graduate?"
My hand stopped mid-air because of Tito Charles' question.
What do I want to do after I graduate?
Ilang beses na nga ba'ng naitanong sa akin 'yan? Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko alam ang sagot. All the time my family, my friends and acquaintances ask me that question, I always go mute and blank.
Sure, I know what I want. But what will I do?
"S-sa totoo lang Tito," I swallowed the lump in my throat before continuing, "I love singing po. Pero po kasi, natatakot ako na baka wala akong marating sa bagay na 'yon hahaha."
I tried to hide the pang of pain by laughing it off. Bahagya akong nag-iwas ng tingin atsaka ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain ng sandwich.
"You know iha, when I was in college, undecided din ako eh," pinunasan niya ang bibig gamit ang table napkin bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "Nung nag-aaral palang ako, gusto ng mga magulang ko na maging Engineer ako."
Napatingin ako kay Tito Charles dahil sa sinabi niya. Gulat ko siyang pinagmasdan. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay si Tito ang namamahala ng mga lupain dito sa Manay na pagmamay-ari ng pamilya nila.
Madalas kong makita at madinig na binabati nang mga taga-rito si Tito bilang Sir Velasco o di kaya naman ay Manoy Charles. He was treated with great respect by the people around him and I thought it was just because he belongs to one of the richest family in their place, aside from the fact na masyado siyang mabait sa kapwa.
"Ayaw ko talaga'ng maging inhinyero, pero dahil 'yon ang gusto ng mga magulang ko at ayaw kong ma-disappoint sila sa akin, I finished Engineering. When I graduated with that degree, sinubukan kong mag trabaho bilang isang ganap na Engineer. Pero kalaunan, doon ko na realize na hindi 'yon ang para sa akin."
I was intently listening to Tito Charles. My Dad used to talk to me about things like these, but listening to others' stories isn't bad at all.
"Gusto ko talaga ang mamahala ng mga bukid at maging isang farmer. And so, I told my parents about it. Nung una, ayaw nila. Disappointed sila dahil sayang daw ang mga napag-aralan ko. Pero ipinakita ko na desidido ako. It took me years to finally get their approval. And here I am now. Enjoying something I've always wanted to do from the very beginning."
I found myself smiling at Tito Charles. Kita mo ang saya sa mukha niya habang nagke-kwento. How I wish I can be as happy as he is.
"Sa totoo lang Aria, ayos lang ang mag-alangan. Ayos lang ang matakot at malito. Normal naman sa isang tao ang mga bagay na 'yon. We are human beings. We tend to get lost and confused. We tend to get scared. Ang hindi ayos? Yung hindi ka marunong sumugal."
"Paano mo malalaman na para sa'yo ang bagay na 'yon kung hindi mo kayang gumawa ng isang hakbang? If you stay where you are, you will never move forward. Minsan, mas masarap sa pakiramdam 'yong napatunayan mong para sayo talaga dahil may nagawa ka."
I reflected on Tito's words. Tama siya. I buried my feet right where I was standing, the reason why I am not moving forward.
"You have to keep moving, Aria. You have to keep reaching. Chances are infinite, but time isn't. Baka isang araw pagka gising mo, ubos na ang oras, pero wala kang naabot. Masasabi mo lang na worth it lahat, kapag may naabot ka."
"Find where your heart belongs iha. Reach for your path. And if the path is not there, then make one."
Tito thanked me for the food and bade me good night before going upstairs to rest. Nilinis ko ang pinagkainan namin bago umakyat sa kwarto namin nina Danae.
Kaming mga babae ay nasa iisang kwarto habang nasa iisang kwarto naman sina Caleb, Nhor at Wade. Sigurado'ng tuwang-tuwa ang bakla'ng 'yon. Tumalon at tumili pa nga siya kanina ng marinig ang maganda'ng balita.
I quietly opened the door, careful not to make a sound or else I'll wake the others up. Pero muntik akong mapatalon ng maabutan kong gising si Danae. I stopped myelf from screaming in shock.
"Saan ka galing?" She asked, half asleep.
"Kumain lang. Ba't gising ka pa?"
"Nagising lang. Naramdaman kong bumangon ka. Susundan sana kita pero tinatamad ako eh," she pouted.
Humiga ako sa tabi niya. I tried to close my eyes but I just can't sleep. Tito's words kept ringing in my ears. Napa buntong-hininga ako.
"Anong iniisip mo?" Danae asked in a whisper. I heaved a sigh before answering.
"Kanina, nakausap ko si Tito Charles. He lectured me about the future."
"Like family-planning?! That's too early!" Tinakpan ko ang bibig niya dahil sa sobrang ingay. Baka magising sina Althea at Mary.
"Gaga! About my career!" Mahina kong asik.
"Klaruhin mo kasi!" We both went quiet before she talked again. "Anong sinabi mo?"
"Wala naman masyado. Pero sinabi kong mahal ko ang pagkanta," napalunok ako bago siya tiningnan sa mata. "Natatakot ako, D."
She hugged me tight and tapped my back. I felt comfortable with her hug. It was cozy and warm.
"Lahat naman tayo ay takot. Hindi lang naman ikaw." Gulat akong lumayo sa kanya at pinanlakihan siya ng mata.
"Takot ka din?!" I half shouted and half whispered.
That was really surprising. Sa aming magkakaibigan, Danae has always been the one who's sure about herself and what she wants. Nakakagulat lang malaman na kahit siya ay takot.
"Oo naman! Ikaw lang ba tao sa atin?" She rolled her eyes at me. "Natatakot din akong pumalpak at magkamali. Pero alam mo kung anong natutunan ko? Yun yung 'wag kaagad bumigay. Fight lang ng fight! Kahit ano pa 'yan, laban lang! Tingnan mo si Caleb."
"Bakit naman siya nasali sa usapan?" Sinimangutan ko siya.
"Kasi nasasaktan na siya, pero sumusugal pa rin. Ikaw naman, halatang gusto mo na siya pero natatakot kang sumugal. Akala mo maganda ka? Hindi!" She lightily pulled my hair out of frustration.
Natahimik ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Bakit ba lagi'ng tama si Danae sa mga sinasabi niya? We were both silent until I heard her sigh guiltily before hugging me again.
"Follow your heart, Aria. Hindi ka dapat magpadala sa takot. You have to keep fighting and reaching. I don't want you to regret things in the end."
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2 or 3 chapters to go!
Thank you for everyone who kept reading and supporting this story. I hope you all learned a lesson.
Keep reaching loves<333